Pressure actuated valve



Aug. 29, 1944, H'. N. RIDER 2,357,133.

PRESSURE ACTUATED VALVE Original Filed' Nov.- 2v, 1942 Snventor GttomegPatented Aug. 29, 1944 PRESSURE ACTUATED VALVE Harry N. Rider,Youngstown, Ohio, assignor to Automatic Sprinkler Company of America,Youngstown, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Original applicationNovember 2, 1942, Serial No.

Divided and this application March 26, 1943, Serial No. 480,718

4 Claims.

This invention relates to a control valve and more particularly to apressure actuated valve adapted for fluid control.

The principal object of the invention is the provision of a pressureactuated valve wherein fluid pressure, the flow of which is controlledby the valve, is utilized to effect such control.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a fluid pressureactuated valve incorporating-means for creating and utilizing adifferential in fluid pressures for maintaining the said valve in openor closedrelation to the fluid passageway therethrough.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a fluid pressurevalve wherein fluid pressure controlled by the valve serves toeffectively latch a clapper of the said valve in closed position.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a fluidpressure actuated valve capable of actuation by a valve mechanism suchas that shown in my copending application for patent, Serial No. 462,630filed October 19, 1942.

The fluid pressure actuated valve shown and described herein constitutesan efficient and dependable means of controlling the flow of fluid,primarily fire extinguishing fluid, in a communication line such as ariser of a nre extinguishing system. The pressure actuated control valveis of a type, wherein 'fluid pressure in the line being controlled isutilized to effect the valve operation and in so doing serves to blockthe flow of fluid through the valve. The valve is Aadapted to be openedby the by-passing, either manually or automatically, of the fluidpressure from one of the actuating portions of the valve to anotherportion, which will overcome the differential normally existing. andpermit the valve to-open. f

With the foregoing Yand other objects in view which will appear asVv thedescription proceeds, the invention lresides in the combination andarrangement of vparts and in the details of construction hereinafterdescribed and claimed, it being understood that changes in the preciseembodiment of the invention herein disclosed can be made within thescope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

The invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, wherein:

The ligure is a cross sectional side elevation illustrating the pressureactuated valve.

By referring to the drawing, a pressure actuated Valve may be seenwherein opening of the valve depends' upon the equalization of fluidpressures in the diaphragm chamber which equalization permits a springto move the latch and unlatch the clapper. The pressure actuated valvewill be seen tc comprise a valve body- I formed with a fluid inlet IIwhich fluid inlet II is separated from the interior of the valve body IUby means of an annular shoulder I2 carrying a seat ring I3. A clapper I4is pivoted by means of a pivot pin I4a to the valve body I0 and isadapted to close the passageway between the fluid inlet II and the valvebody |10. In order that the clapper I4 may be maintained in closedposition by fluid pressure within the inlet II, a diaphragm chamber I5is formed by and between an extension ISAand a cap I'I at one side ofthe Valve body I0. A diaphragm I8 is positioned across the diaphragmchamber and is held between the cap Il and the extension I5, so as todivide the diaphragm chamber I5. Alatch lever I9 is positioned in andextends loosely through an opening 2D which establishes communicationbetween the interior of the Valve body I0 and the interior of thediaphragm chamber I5 but which permits water to pass only very slowly.The latch lever I9 has a piston-like head 2| formed on the outermost endthereof and the other end of the latch lever I9 is beveled and adaptedto engage a projection 22 on the clapper I4 of the valve. Fluid pressurein the inlet I I of the valve is brought into communication with thediaphragm chamber I5 byrway of an opening 23 in the side wall of thefluid inlet II and by a tube 2li-which communicates with a T fitting 25.The T fitting 25 is in direct communication with one side of thediaphragm chamber I5 by way of an opening 26 therein.

The T fitting 25 is also in communication with the diaphragm chamber I5on the opposite side of the diaphragm I8 by way of a secondary tube 2lwhich establishes communication with the diaphragm chamber I 5 by way ofan opening 28. The secondary Ytube L2'I is normally closed `by means ofa valve symbolically illustrated and indicated by the numeral 29 whichvalve may constitute a valve release mechanism such as is set forth inthe coi-pending application for patent, Ser. No. 462,630 filed October19, 1942, 'or any other valve known in the art.

The valve 29 is subject to actuation by appropriate means, and forms theactuating device for the iluid pressure valve. When it is in normallyclosed position, the valve 29 does not interfere with the application of.fluid pressure from the inlet I I to one side ofthe diaphragm chamberI5 and against the diaphragm I8 so as to move the latch lever I9 againstthe projection 22 of the clapper I4. The fluid pressure overcomes thetension of a coil spring 3l] positioned about the latch lever I9 withinan extension of the diaphragm chamber I5. It will thus be seen thatpressure in the fluid inlet I I which is controlled by the closedclapper I4, serves to indirectly hold the clapper I4 in closed position.In order to cause the clapper I4 to open, the valve 29 in the secondarytube 21 is opened either automatically or manually or by a combinationof both actions which brings the fluid pressure heretofore present inthe tube 24 and the fitting 25 into direct communication with thediaphragm chamber I5 on the opposite side of the diaphragm I8 by way oithe opening 28 in the extension portion I6 of the valve body I whichforms the other half of the diaphragm chamber structure. When thisoccurs, the uid pressures being equal upon each side of the diaphragmI8, the diaphragm I8 will immediately assume an intermediate positionwhich will permit the springr 30 to move the latch lever I9 and thepiston-like head 2| thereof toward the diaphragm I8 and away from theprojection 22 of the clapper I4 which action permits the same to open.

To reset the iluid pressure actuated valve, the

subject of this invention, the valve 29 is closed, a gate valve (notshown) controlling the entrance of `fluid to the fluid inlet I I of thefluid pressure valve is closed, the valve body opened by removal of thehand hole cover, and the clapper I4 manually held upon theseat ring I3while the gate valve (not shown) is opened, thus fluid entering theinlet II also enters the diaphragm chamber I by way of the opening26'therein and distends fthe diaphragm I8, ythe latch lever I9 isthereby moved outwardly into latching position against the projection 22of the clapper I4. The hand hole cover is then replaced. The valve isthen in condition for re-actuation upon the subsequent opening of thevalve 29 in the secondary tube 2l. The valve herein described hasfeatures not found in other valves known in the art. For example; thepositive unlatching of the clapper I4 is due to the application of iluidpressure to both sides of the diaphragm I8. Further, no exhaust orrelief of fluid pressure to the atmosphere is necessary as all of thefluid in the actuating portions of the device is retained within thesame- This application is a division of my co-pending application forpatent on Pressure actuated control valve, Serial No. 464,169, filed Nov2, 1942. Having thus described my invention, what I claim is: l 1. Apressure actuated valve comprising in combination a valve body having aclapper hinged therein adapted to close a passageway therethrough,pressure actuated means including a diaphragm normally engaging the saidclapper so as to retain it in closed position means to release saidclapper, means establishing communication between the space on one sideof said diaphragm and the inlet portion of the said valve, and means forequalizing fluid pressures on the two sides of the said diaphragm so asto permit the said clapper to open.

2. A pressure actuated valve comprising in combination a valvebodyhaving an inlet portion and an outlet portion with a communicationchannel therebetween, a movably positioned clapper adapted to close thesaid communication channel, a movable latch member adapted to retain theclapper in closed position, a fluid pressure actuated means including adiaphragm for normally holding the said movable latch member in latchedrelation to the said clapper, a spring to release the latch member, andmeans for equalizing uid pressures on the two sides of the saiddiaphragm so as to permit the spring to releasethe said clapper andthereby open the said communication channel.

3. A pressure actuated valve comprising in combination a valve bodyhaving an inlet portion and an outlet portion with a communicationchannel therebetween, a movably positioned hinged clapper adapted toclose the said communication channel, a latch adapted to normally retainthe clapper in closed position, and fluid pressure actuated means fornormally holding the said latch in latched relation to the said clapper,said fluid pressure actuated means comprising a diaphragm in a chamberformed adjacent the said latch. the said diaphragm engaging the saidlatch so as to move the same against the said clapper, meansestablishing communication between the said diaphragm chamber on oneside of the said `diaphragm and the said inlet portion of the said valveso that pressure therein normally holds the said diaphragm against thesaid latch and the said latch against the said clapper, means tomove thesaid latch away from the said clapper and means including a normallyclosed valve establishing a communication channel between the said inletportion and the said chamber on the other side of the said diaphragm.

4. A pressure actuated valve comprising in combination a valve bodyhaving an inlet portion and an outlet portion with a communicationchannel therebetween, a movably positioned clapperradapted to close thesaid communication channel, a movable latch member adapted to retain theclapper in closed position, means normally urging said latch member awayfrom said clapper, and fluid pressure actuated means including adiaphragm mounted in a chamber for normally holding the said movablelatch member in latched relation to the said clapper, means establishingcommunication between the said inlet portion of the said valve and thesaid chamber on one side of the said diaphragm, and means for Aapplyingfluid pressure to the other side of the said diaphragm so as to causethe said latch to move away from the said clapper and permit the saidclapper to open.

HARRY N. RIDER.

